The auction is
the darkest and most depressing part of Black History. The auction is the
epitome of helplessness and victimization. Stephen Williams shares the
experience of being auctioned in a slave trading yard. Stephen's mama however,
was a "very very religious women". She violated yard rules by praying with
others, then voluntarily admitted her guilt. Does God really answer prayer? Come
and see how her prayers were answered.

We ain't been in New
Orleans very long till Mr. Abram took sick and die, and we is taken to
the trader yard to be sold. I reckon I musta been 'bout six or mebbe
seven year old, at the time.

Major Long was the
one who owned the trader yard where we was put, and I guess We was kept
there 'bout a week, 'fore my sister Mary was sold away from
us.

One morning, our
family is all kinda huddled up together in a cornet of the yard away
from the rest, and 'long comes Major Long carring his bullwhip in his
hand, with another man. He makes Mary stand up and says to the man with
him, "Here's jes' the girl you want for a nurse girl. "

Mama begs Major
Long not to separate us folks, and hugged mary and Jane and me to her.
The major and the man with him talks a while, and then the major come
over to where we are and pulled Mary away from Mamn. and he and the man
took her off. "twan't till after Freedom that we ever saw her again.

Man, man, folks
what didn't go through slavery ain't got no idea what it was. I reckon
there musta been a hundred colored folks in that trader yard, and the
dirt and smell was terrible, terrible. I was jes' a little chap, like
I've told you, but I can remember that place like it happened
yesterday-- husbands sold away from wives, and children taken awav from
mothers. A trader, them days, didn't think no more of selling a baby or
little child away from its mother than takinp a little calf away from a
cow.

I rec'lec', the
night after Mary is sold away from us, the colored folks in the trader
yard hold prayer meeting. Mama was very religious-very religious--and it
ever a soul went to Heaven, hers did. Seems like Major Long was gone
that evening, and Mama and some more of the folks in the yard got
together for a praying time. Didn't do no singing, 'cause that would
have 'tracted attention, and the major didn't 'low no meetings. But
someone saw the folks prayin and told him the next morning, and he come
out in the yard with a cat-o'-nine-tails and rounds everybody up. Then,
he said, "You niggers what was praying last night, step out here. "

None come
out, though, 'cept Mama, 'cause they was 'fraid they was going to get
whipped Major said to Mama, "Well, you are the only truthful one in the
yard, and I won't whip you, 'cause you have been truthful. I'll see if
I can keep you and your man and your other children together and not
see you separate." Mama jes' fell on her knees and thanked the good
Lord right in front of the major, and he never touched her with his
whip.

Twan't but a
little while till he comes back and says for us to get our bundles and
come with him. We didn't know where we was going, but any place was
better'n that trader yard. Jes' to get away from that place was a
blessing from ther good Lord.

The major kept his
word to Mama and sell us to Mr. Dan sullivan, and he takes us up, to
Alexandria in a wagon.

Bull Whip
Days, The Slaves Remember

Mama’s prayer

My Jesus, you’s
always been my true master. You’s the one that keep my children and my
man and me. Eyes knows that. Times ain’t never been easy. Don’t know
if there is easy times til Glory. But, time gets harder since master
gone on. But, you’s always been faithful. Eyes see’s your hand in all
things. The sun, the moon, stars everywhere. Smell of the sweet dew in
the mornin. Trees, fresh dirt growing all kinds of nourishment.
Chicks, eggs and even old snakes has them places here in this land of
yours.

Eyes knows my Mary
in your hands cause I put all my children there from the time they’s
see’s this face of mines. I give them back to you Jesus. (SAFE
KEEPING) Just eyes been all my born days. My insides feel gutted out
like the pig was gutted; NOW that my Mary gone. But she’s gone be
nursing a misses upnorth tending to needs of master and his misses. Be
in the big house; my Mary. Good nourishment’s in the bit house. No
bullwhip for my Mary, lease not on a regular. You’s still blessing I
can see your hands working. (safe keeping) Eyes love my children, keep
o loving, can’t stop, can’t forget. Insides gutted out. Pray Jesus
Pray. I sees ya work all’s my life, my man do to. You’s do right by
us. Right all you know Jesus. Does right, wee’s be together til wee’s
see Glory for ourseles. Bullwhip ain’t no hurt like gutten out feelen.
Wee’s stay together Jesus. Eyes see’s my Mary in Glory if I don’t see’s
her no moor here. See’s her your hands, gives her to you at first
birth.

All the time looken
for Glory days but you know wee’s still here in these old bullwhip
days. You have you way’s with that old bullwhip soon Jesus. Pray Pray
- these masters can’t whip you. Eyes seen your ways yonder here Jesus.
Moves your ways here now Jesus. Makes this master a feeling man. All’s
will be well master Jesus. Make this master a feeling man. Gives’s us
a new home together where fresh air smells fine.....